Ore mining and separating machine



(No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 1.

M. OOVEL. ORE MINING AND SEPARATING MACHINE.

No. 558,674 Patented Apr. 21, 1896.

ANDREW B GRAHAM. PHOTO-UTHQWASNINGF'JN. [1Cv 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

f M. OOV'EL. ORB MINING AND SEPARATING MAGHINE.

PatentedApn-2LN1896.

No. 558,674. I

INN

{No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.-

MLCOVEL. v ORE MINING AND SEPARATING MACHINE.

No. 558,674; v Patented Apr 21,1896.

* ZZw- (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4. M. OOVEL. ORE MINING AND SEPARATING MAGHINE.

Patented Apr. 21, 1896.

Z720e /2 0n' (No Model!) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 M. OOVEL. ORE MINING AND, SEPARATING MACHINE. No. 558,674.

Patented Apr. 21

MILO COVEL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ORE MINING AND SEPARATING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N ,0. 558,674, dated April 21, 1896. Application filed October 11, 1894. Serial N0. 525,608. (No model.)

ing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved appartus for mining and separating precious metals from their ores and refuse matter, and is more especially intended for working the beds of rivers and smaller streams.

The object is to provide an apparatus that .may be mounted on a flat-boat or other floating platform and used in reaching the ordis narily inaccessible pockets and deposits in the beds of rivers and streams, and not only to collect the coarser particles of gold, but also the finer floating particles that are usually carried away by the force of the current or on the surface of the water. The appara tus is also adapted to be used on land, and especially where the saving of water is an object, as it may be used over and over.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a part elevation and part longitudinal section; Fig. 2, a plan detail of the upper end of the riffietrough; Fig. 3, a plan of the lower end of a riffle-trough; Fig. 4., a transverse section on line 4, Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow; Fig. 5, a sectional detail on line 5,Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a part elevation and part section of a portion of the apparatus; Fig. 7, a horizontal plan section on line 7, Fig. (3 Fig. 8, asimilar view on line 8, Fig. 6 5 Fig. 9, a transverse section on line 9, Fig. 7. Fig. 1.0 is a longitudinal section of a dischargepipe connecting with the pump.

A may represent a flat-boat, 011 which the apparatus is mounted together with the motive power. Any form of boat or raft-like structure may be used that is suitable for the purpose and made of materialconvenient to the locality in which it is proposed to use the apparatus.

B is a steam-boiler, C an engine, and D a driving-shaft connecting the engine and ap* paratus.

A centrifugal pump 10, Fig. 1, is mounted on pump-shaft 11, which is provided with suitable journal bearings in standards 12, mounted on the pump-base 13. Pulley 14. is mounted on the pump-shaft and has a belted connection with pulley 15, mounted on counter-shaft 16, journaled in hangers 17. A pulley 18, mounted on counter-shaft 16, belts with pulley 19 on driving-shaft D, by which means the required motion is transmitted from the engine or motive power to the centrifugal pump. One end of a suction-pipe 20 connects with the pump, the opposite end extending down into the earth or bed to be excavated. A chambered receiver 21 is located in the suction-pipe intermediate between the suction end and pump, so that all the heavier refuse matter, such as stones and the like, will be deposited and retained therein, and thereby prevented from entering and clogging the pump.

The discharge-pipe 22 leads from the pump and discharges into a sluicetrough 23. This discharge-pipe is set on an incline so that it has a gradual ascent to the point of delivery, and is provided at intervals with enlarged cylindrical chambers 24, Figs, 1, 2, and 4, with communicating pockets 25, provided with valves 26. The object of this construction is to cause a rifiling action in the discharge-pipe and break up the current flowing vtherethrough and thus having the effect of separating the solid matter and causing the heavier particles of gold to be deposited in the series of pockets, the contents of which are removed through the stop-cock 26. The series of pockets may be connected by a pipe 27, Fig. 1, so that the contents may be delivered into a common receptacle. This connecting-pipe feature is not an essential one, being a mere matter of convenience, and may be omitted.

The delivery end of the pump-pipe is provided with a flattened nozzle, 28 so that the discharge is spread and distributed over the width of the receiving sluice-trough 23. This sluice-trough is provided at intervals with a number of V-shaped riflles 29, terminating in pockets 30 at the lower ends, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and The peculiar shape of these pockets will concentrate the mineral deposits, which may then be conveniently removed through stop-cocks 3 Fig. 3 is a continuation of the sluice-trough shown in Fig. 2, and is provided beyond the last riffle with a screened opening 32, through which the mineral particles and refuse matter carried over to this point are discharged into the first one of a series of bath-frames provided with a screened opening in one end and a mercurial bath in the other part or end. These frames are arranged one below the other and are supported in a suitable framework The upper frame-bath 34 is provided transversely with a partition 35, which stops shortof the top and forms an overflow. A body of mercury willbe placed in the part 36, which forms a bath-receptacle for that purpose. As the matter is discharged from the riffle-trough it drops into the first mercury-bath and overflows the partition 35 and passes through the screened opening 37 into the next mercury-bath 38 in the bath-frame 39 below, which is of the same construction. The mercury-baths and screened openings alternate with reference to their relative positions.

The screened openingis omitted in the last or lowermost of the series of bath-frames, the matter being discharged from the spout end il into a settling-box or sluice-receptacle 4:2, in which are arranged a number of blankets 43. A series of strands 44:, composed of some suitable woolly or soft material, may also be suspended in sluice-box 42, as shown in Fig. (3.

The series of bath-frames are adapted to have an endwise reciprocating movement, also a jarring action.

At each end of the bath-frames are located vertical shafts 415 and 46, which are provided with suitable journal bearings supported from the main framework. On the lower ends of these shafts are mounted beveled pinions 47 and 48, which engage with corresponding pinions 49 and 50, mounted on the respective ends of counter-shaft 51. A band-pulley 52 is mounted on shaft 51 and belts with pul- 2 (Shown in ley 53 on the main driving-shaft. Fig. 1.) By this arrangement the desired mo tion is transmitted to shafts 4:5 and 46. On each of these shafts is mounted, alternately, an eccentric 51, so as to be opposite that end of the series of bath-frames containing the mercury. The bath ends of the series of frames are supported on companion rockers 55, arranged at each side and pivoted to the main frame, as at 56. The rockers are curved on their bearing-surface and are provided in the center with a recess 57. A plate or plates 58 are secured to the under side of the bathframes in line with the rockers. These plates are provided with a rib 59, engaging with the The means employed 1 to produce this effect will next be described.

groove in the rockers to prevent them from slipping out of place when an endwise movement is imparted to the series of bath-frames by means of the eccentrics 54, connected with the frames by rods 60.

The opposite ends of the bath-frames are supported on rockers 61 and (32, located at each side, Fig. 9, and pivoted, as at (33, to the main frame. These rockers are flat on top and are provided with lugs 64, which bear against the under side of the frames and have the effect of raising and dropping this end of the same with a jarring or jigging action in addition to the reciprocating movement imparted by the rockers at the opposite ends. The reciprocating movement agitates the mercury and facilitates the amalgamating process, while the jarring action on the opposite ends of the frames prevents the sand and other refuse matter from packing and insures a continuous flow over the partitions dividing the baths from the screened openings.

The stop-cocks 66 provide means for drawing off the contents of the mercury-baths.

The mercury-baths will be provided, ordinarily, with corrugated bottoms, as shown, which has the effect of more thoroughly agitatin g the bath and facilitating the operation.

An eccentric 67 is mounted on the upper end of shaft 46 and is connected with an arm 68, secured to the riffle-sluice 23 by a rod 69, which has the effect of transmitting a reciprocating action and assisting in the process of separation.

An arrangement comprising an endless rope 7 O, carrying a number of buttons 71, arranged at intervals thereon, is made to run over suitable pulleys, so that the buttons will stir up and carry away the sand and other refuse that will collect in the bottom of the partition end 72 of the blanket sluice-box.

In operation the matter being worked is forced by the pump through the inclined riffled discharge-pipe, the flow being broken up at intervals and more or less of the mineral particles deposited in each of the series of pockets in the process of separation. As the matter flows into the first ri-ffle-trough the separation continues, the heavier mineral particles gravitating into and lodging in the different pockets, so that by the time the flow has reached the bath-frames a considerable portion of the gold has been taken out, leaving only the lighter particles. As the operation continues a finer separation is obtained by the action of the series of bath-frames, and by the time the discharge therefrom into the blanket sluice-box is reached the greater part of the valuable minerals has been removed, leaving but the finer floating particles of gold to be collected and saved by the blanket-surfaces and suspended strands.

The operation is continuous from the starting of the pump until the terminal part of the process is reached.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an ore mining and separating machine, the combination with a series of mercury-bath frames, having a bath-receptacle in one end and a screened opening in the other, such arrangement alternating throughout the series, an overflow-partition, located between the bath-receptacle and screened openings, the pivoted rockers, on which the respective ends of said frames rest, and means for act-u ating said rockers, substantially as described.

2. In an ore mining and separating machine, the combination with a series of bathframes, having both a reciprocating and jarring action, of a sluice-trough, having a number of blankets arranged therein, and a series of pendent strands, arranged above said blankets and adapted to collect and retain the finer floating particles of minerals, substantially as described.

3. In an ore mining and separating machine, the combination with a sluice-trough, of a number of blankets submerged therein, and a series of pendent strands, arranged above said blankets but only partially submerged, substantially as described.

4. I11 an ore mining and separating machine, the combination with a series of bathframes, having a mercury-bath in one end and screened openings in the other separated by an overflow-partition, the position of the bath ends and screened openings alternating throughout the series, the eccentrics, imparting an endwise movement to said frames, the curved rockers, supporting the bath end of said frames, and the flat rockers, provided with bearing-lugs and supporting the opposite end of said frames, substantially as described.

5. In an ore mining and separating machine, the combination with a series of bathframes, having a mercury-bath in one end and screened openings in the other, a number of rockers, having curved bearing-surfaces and recessed in the center, a number of plates, secured to the under side of the bath ends of said frame and provided with ribs engaging with the recess in said rockers, and a number of rockers, supporting the opposite ends of said frames and provided With lugs which bear against the under side thereof and have the effect of producing ajarring action, substantially as described.

MILO oovEL.

Witnesses L. M. FREEMAN, L. B. OoUPLANn. 

